Algeria: Les Fennecs (The Desert Foxes)

When things are going well for the Desert Foxes they can be dangerous on attack and smothering on defense. Just ask Egypt, which Algeria beat to qualify for the World Cup, or Ivory Coast, the powerhouse squad that was tripped up by the Algerians in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament the Ivorians were favored to win. But this is a wildly unpredictable team—stellar one day, sloppy and seething the next. Before beating Ivory Coast the Algerians were thumped by lowly Malawi, 3-0, in the group stage of the Cup of Nations, and they looked terrible in the semis, losing three players to red cards while succumbing 4-0 to Egypt (in a payback, of sorts, for the World Cup qualifier humiliation). To make it to the elimination round in South Africa, the Desert Foxes will need everything to break their way. They open against Slovenia—no picnic—and then face England and the USA. There could well be a lot on the line for that last game against Landon Donovan and company. Algeria’s young and inexperienced team may be in tatters by then, but don’t expect the Desert Foxes to slip quietly into the night.• Don’t overlook them; they’ll catch you napping. [Fox Soccer]